Birmingham Children's Theatre is in fine shape and making plans for its seventh decade of productions when the school year begins.

So says Charlotte Lane Dominick, a long-time board member who, with Camille Butrus and Tim Harper, runs BCT as a management committee since the October retirement of managing director Edie Barnes.

Like some other arts groups, the theater has struggled lately, but rumors of its demise are greatly exaggerated. And just plain wrong.

"We're so excited because we managed to finish in the black," Dominick says. "That was the goal."

Reaching the goal wasn't easy. One production, "Romeo and Juliet," was canceled, and as a result, some full-time staff members were let go a couple of months before the BCT staff usually takes a break during the summer, Dominick said.

"There wasn't anything for them to work on," she said. "It was very difficult."

When BCT gets up and running in mid-August, the full-time staff will have been cut from 19 to about 15, Dominick said, and the board is searching right now for Barnes' replacement.

The new director "will be expected to oversee all aspects of the organization's operations -- administrative and artistic -- and adhere to the board's policy of sound financial management and fiscal responsibility," according to a news release.

In the meantime, Dominick says six productions are planned for school and community audiences: "Rapunzel," "The Snow Girl" and "Pinocchio" in the Mainstage Theatre; and "City Mouse/Country Mouse," "Dear Santa" and a new Jean Pierce adaptation of "Goldilocks & the Three Bears" in the Wee Folks Theatre.

Broadway In Huntsville

Huntsville's Broadway Theatre League has announced its 2008-09 season, and it's a good one that includes a few shows that have not yet come to Birmingham and a few that have.

Kicking things off Nov. 14-16 is "The Pajama Game," the classic musical recently revived on Broadway with Kelli O'Hara and Harry Connick Jr.

It's followed by the very bloody "Sweeney Todd" Jan. 9-11 and the much more family-friendly "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" Jan. 27-Feb. 1. None of those shows has been in Birmingham, yet.

The season ends with two that have been here recently: "Monty Python's Spamalot" Feb. 17-22 and "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" March 6-8.

In addition, three specials are planned: "Happy Days," a new musical based on the TV series, May 1-3; "The Rat Pack," recently presented in Birmingham, March 29; and "James & the Giant Peach," presented as part of the Family Fun Series on Nov. 21.

All shows are presented at Huntsville's Von Braun Center, and information about season tickets is available by calling 256-518-6155.